Sony has seriously been squashing Microsoft in hype, hardware, and sales statistics ever since the company announced the December release of PS4 to rival Microsoft’s Xbox One. The Japanese company has always been an authority when it comes to top-notch gaming consoles, but apparently, they’re lightyears ahead when it comes to equality, too.
We know this because this weekend, at the Eurogamer Expo in Earl’s Court, London, Microsoft hired a “comedian” named Fraser Millward to completely humiliate and dehumanize a transgender woman on stage. We guess this is one of the many reasons why you should never hire comedians to talk about your technical products?
The shocking attack came during an Xbox One presentation, where trans Destructoid contributor Laura Kate Dale was invited to the stage for what we assume to be an interactive demonstration. Once on stage, Dale was called “he,” “it,” “thing,” and “this one” by Millward, who stood beside her and begged the audience to find a “real” woman: “We need a woman on stage, any women here?”
Enraged, Dale took to Twitter and said it was the “most embarrassing moment.” She also says the transphobia she experienced on stage is rife, and the reason why she often “considers dropping out” of the tech industry altogether.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Most embarrassing moment of Eurogamer. Pulled up on stage for XB1 thing and called male twice and "it" twice.
— Laura Kate Dale (@LaurakBuzz) September 29, 2013
People at the stage "appologise that I was upset by his comments". Refused to bring him out for me to talk to.
— Laura Kate Dale (@LaurakBuzz) September 29, 2013
These are the times, no matter how far I've come, i consider throwing it all away for a nice easy life working a dead end supermarket job.
— Laura Kate Dale (@LaurakBuzz) September 29, 2013
After the presentation, Microsoft reportedly refused to speak with Dale but offered a half-assed apology that went something like ‘We’re sorry you’re offended by us being hilarious.’ Today, Microsoft is “looking into the issue.”
2eo
Given the recent run of Microsoft, the absolute arse backwards way they do everything they’re likely to sack the idiots responsible then rehire, then fire them again.
Hopefully Steve leaving will open the door for someone with an ounce of humanity.
Fraser Millward is an unfunny fucker, doesn’t surprise me he resorts to these worthless jibes to get laughs from other subnormals.
rojo
Microsoft is a big supporter of the LGBT community. I’m not going to let this incident cloud my judgment of the company and their support for LGBT’s. That being said, the people responsible should be fired.
Greg Garavani
From Bill Gates’ Polio vaccine killing kids, to the homophobia present in Xbox Live games and now this, Microsoft needs to really get their shit together. I can’t explain how disgusted I am and don’t ever want to support these bastards, makes me feel great to have my PlayStation 4 pre-ordered.
Will L
@rojo: I think what you mean to say is that they SEEM to be a big supporter of the LGBT community. They are responsible for the actions of the presenter hired by their company. Until they properly apologize, this matter is not closed.
The irony of this whole thing is that Microsoft has become such a joke in the industry these days. Hiring a comedian is almost overkill.
Saralikesyarr
Fuck Microsoft.
Seriously.
These guys are assholes.
Imagine if they called any gay personality up on stage and started calling them “faggot” or “fudgepacker” or joked that “hey, you have AIDS yet? Ha ha.”
You’d want to punch the guy.
That comedian is a hate-filled asshole, and Microsoft hired him.
And they give a half-assed non-apology CSR/PR statement?
What assholes. They deserve to go bankrupt like the looser company they are.
I’m sure there are good people working there, but even the corporate environment I’ve heard is ridiculously cutthroat and humiliating to employees.
Even Valve is fed up with them, and has had enough of their not getting their act together.
They are a completely lost company and they need to look hard at themselves and reflect upon who they really want to be, rather than taking it out on other people and vulnerable populations.
Really, really disgusting behavior.
Saralikesyarr
Apparently, since this happened in the UK, it’s also quite ILLEGAL.
Section 3 of the Equality Act of 2010, regarding “prohibited conduct” defines harassment as:
“(i) Unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating the individual’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual.
(ii) Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and this has the purpose or effect of violating the individual’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual.
(iii) Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is related to individuals sex or gender reassignment, which has purpose or effect of violating the individuals dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual and because of the individual’s rejection or submission of the conduct, A treats B (the individual) less favourably than he/she would have, had the individual not rejected or submitted to the conduct.”
the following 3 definitions are applicable under the Act when an individual is treated less favourably based on one or more “protected characteristics”, which are:
age;
disability;
gender reassignment;
marriage and civil partnership;
pregnancy and maternity;
race;
religion or belief;
sex;
sexual orientation. ”
As we can see, it’s a clear violation of UK law.
Red Meat
Her hair is ridiculous tho.
krystina rose
FUCK microsoft i’m goin back and getting a ps3 or ps4